Inflatable toy

ABSTRACT

An inflatable toy including a bulbous body of rubbery material adapted to be inflated as a balloon, the body comprising a caricature of a comic figure or satellite or the like and including attachable weight means for arrangement with respect to the body to cause a force substantially equal and opposite to the buoyant force of a lighter than air gas in the body so that the toy is substantially weightless.

United States Patent Nemen M. Terc 1006 Cherokee Road Apt. 11 G, Portsmouth, Va. 23701 760,545

Sept. 18, 1968 July 13, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented INFLATABLE TOY 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl

Field of Search 46/87, 155, 89

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1924 Swartz et a1. 46/87 5/1932 Ranseem 46/87 9/1937 Hanson 46/87 3/1950 Goodman 46/155 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-J. M. Carson, Jr.

ABSTRACT: An inflatable toy including a bulbous body of rubbery material adapted to be inflated as a balloon, the body comprising a caricature of a comic figure or satellite or the like and including attachable weight means for arrangement with respect to the body to cause a force substantially equal and opposite to the buoyant force of a lighter than air gas in the body so that the toy is substantially weightless.

PAIENTEDJULI 3m. 34591- 975 IN VENTOR. NE/WE/V M TERC WTOR/UEX INFLATABLE TOY It is another object of this invention to provide a balloontype toy filled with a gas lighter than air and weighted so as to be in substantial equilibrium between the forces of gravity as a buoyant force for use by children in enjoying hours of educational entertainment.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. ll, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate perspective views of alternative embodiments of the instant invention in various configurations;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a weight adapted to be attached to the devices seen in FIGS. 1 through 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial view illustrating the weight attached to a toy;

FIG. 7 is an alternative type of attachment for the weight.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, it is seen that each involves an expansible bulbous body which has been designated by the numeral 12 in each of these views. Each of these bodies defines a main hollow inner chamber which is in communication with a nipple which has been indicated by the numeral 13 in the drawings. Additionally, each of the units or bodies includes a weighted portion. The weights of the FIGS. 1 and 2 are indicated by the numeral 15 arranged in the lower or base portion 16 of these bodies. The weights may be of the pellet type which will tend to seek the lower level of the interior chamber of the body. It is intended that the bodies be filled with gas which is lighter than air, such as helium or hydrogen with the result being that there is a substantial equilibrium between the upward buoyant forces caused by the relatively heavier ambient air surrounding the body and the forces of gravity attracting the weighted portion and body. There results a unit which is adapted to be moved over a surface with a minimum amount of force providing an interesting and delightful toy for children. In the'configuration seen in FIG. 3, the weighted portion 17 is illustrated in the distal portion 19 of the arm 21 of the figure; however, with a minimum amount of force applied as indicated by the arrow 22, the body will rotate and, when flipped, the weight will tend to migrate to the distal end 24 of the arm or of the leg 26 with the result that there is created an interesting and generally pivotal type of toy having unusual movements when forces are applied to it. While buckshot type pellets may be used as a weight, it is also practical to use a heavy liquid, such as quick silver, or a watery substance. Referring to FIG. 4, one of the antennae 28 may be of a weighted material as indicated by the numeral 30 comprising a core which, for decorative purposes, is shielded as indicated in FIG. 4, but which, nevertheless, operates as a weight to maintain the orientation of the satellite-type body 112 seen in FIG. 4. One of the antennae may be provided as a cap 32 to camouflage the nipple 13.

Because gases which are lighter than air are highly diffusive by nature, there will be some leakage over a period of time; accordingly, a weight adjusting means is provided to restore equilibrium and to compensate for the loss of buoyancy to permit removal of weight from the unit. With this in mind, reference is now made to FIG. 5 in which there is shown an adhesive patch 34 on which there are provided a plurality of weighted discs 36, 38 and 40. In use, the patch 34 is applied at a convenient location on the surface of the body, preferably at or near the center of gravity so as not to interfere unnecessarily with rotation of the body about that center. Each of the discs is provided with an adhesive coating of the pressure sensitive type as indicated by the numeral 42 to removably adapt it for attachment to the outer surface 44 of the patch. An altemative type of adjustable weight is indicated in FIG. 6 comprising an inverted container 50 to overlay a portion 52 of the body generally indicated by the numeral 12, similarly designated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and with an opening 54 in the container so that small weights may be inserted or removed from the interior chamber 56 of the unit.

With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 7, it will be apparent that the nipple l3 may be located at any suitable portion on the body; and, in a preferred construction, each of the antennae 60, 62 .and 64 and the antenna which would be represented by the numeral 32 if the nipple 13 were relocated comprise a weighted portion. In such an-embodiment there thus results a generally buoyant spherical body having a plurality of radially extending weights which are spaced about the center in a generally symmetrical pattern. There results a toy which is balanced with respect to altitude and which is tenuously balanced with respect to rotation about its geometric center; thus, the device will respond rapidly by interesting patterns of movement to forces in horizontal and vertical planes as well as to any movements tending to tilt the unit about its geometrical center whereby the device will respond interestingly and rapidly to all currents of surrounding air and trace interesting patterns for a user. Additionally, a minimum control to determine a normal orientation of the device of such an embodiment may be obtained by causing the lowermost weight, that designated by the numeral 28 in F IG. 4, to be slightly heavier than that of the weight of the other antennae which will tend to maintain the unit in the attitude shown in FIG. 4 while at the same time being responsive to rotation about the center of gravity of the unit. The embodiment seen in FIG. 4 and just described may be utilized with a light string for kite-type activity. It will be apparent that the unit will tend to rise by reason of the buoyant forces caused by the lightweight air encapsulated within the body and, when attached to a string, will respond interestingly and rapidly to all changes caused by currents when the kite-type device is being utilized.

It will be apparent that while the configuration of the bodies shown are desirable for the various uses which may be made of a toy, other bulbous bodies may be defined; for instance, one being of elliptical cross section or generally pillow shape may be defined by providing a body composed of a first and a second superimposed sheet of nonporous material, such as polyethylene, which are bounded together at their marginal edges by a seam such as of a hot melt adhesive or Teflon material to bind the seams together or in any other conventional fashion. It will thus be apparent that such an elliptical type configuration will have generally opposing edges at which the main planes of the body converge, which has heretofore not been employed in balloon-type bodies.

What I claim is:

1. A toy comprising a hollow bulbous body of rubbery inflatable material having an inlet port and adapted to receive within the hollow a charge of a gas lighter than air, and weight means carried by the body to compensate for the buoyant force when the hollow is filled with the said gas and the port is closed to maintain substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force, said bulbous body being of spherical form and including a plurality of spaced radially extending simulated antennae of weighted material.

2. The improvement as set forth in claim 5 wherein said weight means comprises a plurality of adhesive carrying weights which are adapted to be selectively applied to the body to adjust the weight thereof.

3. A toy comprising a hollow bulbous body of rubbery inflatable material having an inlet port and a charge of gas lighter than air within the hollow, and weight means carried by the body to compensate for the buoyant force when the hollow is filled with said gas and the port is closed, said weight means being of a weight to maintain substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force of the gas so that the body is substantially weightless, said bulbous body being of circle form and including a plurality of spaced radially extending simulated antennae of weighted material.

4. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said weight means comprises adhesive means to selectively apply the weights to the body to adjust the weight thereof.

5. A toy comprising a hollow bulbous body of rubbery inflatable material having an inlet port and adapted to receive within the hollow a charge of a gas lighter than air, and adjustable weight means carried by the body to compensate for the buoyant force when the hollow is filled with said gas and the port is closed to establish a condition of substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force, said weight means including a plurality of separate weights readily detachably interconnected with the exterior surface of said body, each of said weights being separately manually detachable from said body as required to compensate for gas leakage thereby prolonging the maintenance of said condition of substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force.

6. A toy comprising a hollow bulbous body of rubbery inflatable material having an inlet port and a charge of gas lighter than air within the hollow, and adjustable weight means carried by the body to compensate for the buoyant force when the hollow is filled with said gas and the port is closed, said adjustable weight means being of a weight to establish a condition of substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force of the gas so that the body is substantially weightless,- said weight means including a plurality of separate weights readily detachably interconnected with the exterior surface of said body, each of said weights being separately manually detachable from said body as required to compensate for gas leakage thereby prolonging the maintenance of said condition of substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force. 

1. A toy comprising a hollow bulbous body of rubbery inflatable material having an inlet port and adapted to receive within the hollow a charge of a gas lighter than air, and weight means carried by the body to compensate for the buoyant force when the hollow is filled with the said gas and the port is closed to maintain substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force, said bulbous body being of spherical form and including a plurality of spaced radially extending simulated antennae of weighted material.
 2. The improvement as set forth in claim 5 wherein said weight means comprises a plurality of adhesive carrying weights which are adapted to be selectively applied to the body to adjust the weight thereof.
 3. A toy comprising a hollow bulbous body of rubbery inflatable material having an inlet port and a charge of gas lighter than air within the hollow, and weight means carried by the body to compensate for the buoyant force when the hollow is filled with said gas and the port is closed, said weight means being of a weight to maintain substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force of the gas so that the body is substantially weightless, said bulbous body being of circle form and including a plurality of spaced radially extending simulated antennae of weighted material.
 4. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said weight means comprises adhesive means to selectively apply the weights to the body to adjust the weight thereof.
 5. A toy comprising a hollow bulbous body of rubbery inflatable material having an inlet port and adapted to receive within the hollow a charge of a gas lighter than air, and adjustable weight means carried by the body to compensate for the buoyant force when the hollow is filled with said gas and the port is closed to establish a condition of substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force, said weight means including a plurality of separate weights readily detachably interconnected with the exterior surface of said body, each of said weights being separately manually detachable from said body as required to compensate for gas leakage thereby prolonging the maintenance of said condition of substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force.
 6. A toy comprising a hollow bulbous body of rubbery inflatable material having an inlet port and a charge of gas lighter than air within the hollow, and adjustable weight means carried by the body to compensate for the buoyant force when the hollow is filled with said gas and the port is closed, said adjustable weight means being of a weight to establish a condition of substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force of the gas so that the body is substantially weightless, said weight means including a plurality of separate weights readily detachably interconnected with the exterior surface of said body, each of said weights being separately manually detachable from said body as required to compensate for gas leakage thereby prolonging the maintenance of said condition of substantial equilibrium between the force due to gravity and the buoyant force. 